Tesla has issued a warning to its electric vehicle (EV) customers regarding a popular charging hack circulating within the Tesla community known as the “wet towel trick,” which involves wrapping a damp cloth around a Supercharger connector.

In detail to this charging hack, the wet towel trick has been touted by some users as a method to increase charging speeds. Despite popular belief, Tesla’s official stance on this charging hack is that this practice is not only ineffective but potentially dangerous.

The Tesla Charging account on X addresses the issue stating: “Placing a wet cloth on Supercharger cable handles does not increase charging rates and interferes with temperature monitors creating risk of overheating or damage. Please refrain from doing this so our systems can run correctly, and true charging issues can be detected by our systems.”

The trend gained traction after some Tesla owners reported experiencing slower charging speeds during hot weather. The theory behind the wet towel trick was that cooling the Supercharger handle would “trick” the internal temperature sensors, allowing for faster charging rates.

However, Tesla’s warning emphasizes that this practice can interfere with the crucial thermal management systems built into the Superchargers. These systems are designed to regulate the high-voltage current flowing through the cables, which generates substantial heat. By potentially misleading the temperature sensors, users risk creating unsafe charging conditions that could lead to overheating or damage to both the charging equipment and potentially their EVs.

While many welcomed the clarification, the announcement has sparked debate within the community. Some users have challenged Tesla’s claim that the trick does not increase charging rates. Others have called for improvements to the Supercharger cooling systems to eliminate the need for such workarounds.

As Tesla urges its customers to rely on the built-in safety systems of their Superchargers and to avoid any practices that could compromise these safeguards, it is important to emphasize to all EV owners who have access to Superchargers to not do this charging hack for their own safety.

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